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Crowd Pleasing Recipes (Ultimate Recipe Swap)

Hey there! I'm Jessica. I think that motherhood should be savored, like a good piece of chocolate. But sometimes it feels like more duty than delight. Am I right? I'm working to change that. Read more about me here and this blog here.

With Labor Day fast approaching, now’s the time to scare up a crowd and serve one of these great meals for a multitude.

Growing up the eldest of five children, I learned early on how to cook for a crowd. My parents were both from big families (6 and 8 kids there) so family get-togethers, were, well HUGE. Today I regularly cook for a small army.

But, I realize that not all families are as big as ours. Cooking for many can be a challenge when it’s not your norm. When we have company, I, too, am plagued by the question of “What if there’s not enough food?”

Don’t let this put a damper on your holiday gatherings. Here are my strategies for feeding a crowd:

1. Choose something economical.

If you decide to serve lobster or steak at your next big gathering, it may be hard to keep costs down. You might be tempted to cut corners and end up with too few steaks.

Instead choose a budget-friendly main dish that you can afford to “over buy” in order to accommodate your crowd.

This might focus on beans and legumes, rice dishes, pasta, sale cuts of meat (often chicken and pork) and even pizza.

It’s no secret that going meatless can dramatically cut the cost of your meal. And the dinner will still be fabulous.

2. Plan a meal that you can easily stretch.

If your meal entails an individual-sized main dish, like personal chicken pot pies or chicken in parchment, you may be in a quandary if your guest list expands at the last minute. Instead choose a recipe that you can easily stretch.

Add a can of beans to the chili. Throw extra vegetables into the soup. Supplement that lasagne with a bowl of easy creamed noodles or an extra large Italian salad.

3. Consider food allergies and special diets.

When you’re meal planning, it might not cross your mind if you select three dishes that all contain cheese or dairy. But the guest with the food allergy will notice right away, especially when their dinner options are greatly reduced. Keep in mind how you can make your meal friendly to everyone, at least for a few courses.

Some things may surprise you! Nowadays when it seems that we’re much more aware of food allergies than we were twenty years ago, there are still some things that might throw you for a loop.

We once knew guys with very unique food preferences and allergies. Neither ate vegetables. One due to health issues, they other due to preferences. If I had served a giant salad bar, they might have found themselves with slim pickings.

Try to vary what you serve and include some allergy-free items if you can. Consider these options that are both vegan and gluten- and soy-free:

Feasting with a crowd doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive, or boring. There are plenty of options when it comes to serving a large group of people, many of them tasty and easy to pull together.

URS Guidelines

Remember: Each week at Ultimate Recipe Swap, there is a posted theme. You are welcome to share any recipe that fits the themeand contains a link back to Life as MOM. If you’re curious about the upcoming themes, I have a calendar here. This week’s theme is Crowd-Pleasers.

If you have a recipe that fits the theme, please link it. However, things like Beef Strogonaff will be deleted from Chicken week because it doesn’t contain chicken. Please keep this meme as helpful to others as we can.

Comments

Thanks for including the bit about allergy free foods. I’ve been gluten free for 6 years or so now and it’s always an added bonus when someone makes an effort to make sure I can eat (though I never expect it).

My 6-year-old is allergic to dairy products. Thank you for the allergy shout-out. It’s amazing how many places it’s hidden, and people don’t always think about it. I try to be proactive without being pushy, but sometimes that line is hard.

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